Iran Seizes American Oil Tanker, Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
An oil tanker once at the center of a crisis between Iran and the United States was boarded and seized by Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman Thursday, Iranian state media said, citing the country’s navy. Iranian media reported that “unauthorized” men in military uniforms had boarded the vessel, which was identified as the St. Nikolas, previously known as the Suez Rajan.
“Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the country’s powerful Revolutionary Guard force, said in a message posted on its channel on the Telegram social media app that ‘The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the seizure of an American oil tanker in the waters of the Oman Sea with a court order,'” according to The Associated Press.
Suspicion had immediately fallen on Iran as the ship was involved in a yearlong dispute that ultimately saw the U.S. Justice Department seize 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil from it. Another Iranian news agency, Mehr, cited the navy as calling Thursday’s seizure “retaliation” for the previous U.S. action against the tanker.
The St. Nikolas was shown in satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press turning off its course and heading toward the port of Bandar-e Jask in Iran. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker is now under Iranian control following its seizure.
The seizure comes after weeks of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea, including drones and missiles targeting both commercial and military vessels. Concerns are growing over potential retaliatory strikes by U.S.-led forces now patrolling the vital waterway, especially following a United Nations Security Council vote condemning the Houthi attacks and warning of potential consequences by American and British officials.
The tankers are frequently transited by ships coming in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which a fifth of all oil traded globally passes.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that “unauthorized” armed men boarded the tanker in the waters between Oman and Iran, describing the men as wearing “black military-style uniforms with black masks.” The private security firm Ambrey said “four to five armed persons” had boarded the ship and covered the surveillance cameras as they boarded.
The St. Nikolas had been off the coast of Basra, Iraq, loading crude oil bound for Turkey. It was previously associated with the Greek shipping company Empire Navigation. The company acknowledged losing contact with the vessel, which has a crew of 18 Filipinos and one Greek national.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast, did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the incident. Iran’s mission to the United Nations also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tensions in the region have been high, with multiple seizures of oil tankers and assaults targeting shipping that the Navy has blamed on Tehran. With Iran’s recent seizure of the American oil tanker, the situation in the Persian Gulf shows signs of further escalation.